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Breast Health, Cancer Focus of Women’s Education Event Oct. 20

September 26, 2007

Women concerned about breast cancer will learn about risk factors, imaging advances, and managing the disease during a free program Saturday, Oct. 20, at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Breast Program of the JamesP.WilmotCancerCenter.

“Breast health is an important part of women’s lives as they age and face increased risk of breast cancer. We want to educate women about prevention techniques and disease detection,” said Kristin Skinner, M.D., director of the Multidisciplinary Breast Program and surgical oncology for the WilmotCancerCenter.

The event will include sessions on understanding breast cancer risk, the impact of exercise, nutrition and hormones on breast cancer, advances in breast imaging and techniques for detection, simple exercises and massage techniques for stress reduction, and breast cancer advocacy. Wilmot breast oncologists and experts from the community will lead the workshops.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Monroe and Ontario counties have one of the highest breast cancer incidence rates in New York state, however, women in those counties also have the highest survival rates.

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 33. Breast cancer death rates are going down, likely because of better detection methods and treatment advances.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 178,500 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer this year and about 40,460 women will die from the disease. Right now there are more than two million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is required and space is limited. Call (585) 275-2838.